Cell Sweeper Stealth

Cell Sweeper - Player Documentation

🎮 Welcome to Cell Sweeper!

Cell Sweeper is a stealth version of the classic Minesweeper game that runs entirely within Google Sheets. It's designed to look like a professional project timeline spreadsheet, making it perfect for office environments where you need to stay under the radar!

 

🎯 Game Objective

Goal: Reveal all safe project phases without hitting any "RISK" phases (mines).

You win when all 54 safe cells are revealed (8x8 grid = 64 cells - 10 mines = 54 safe cells).

 

📋 How to Play

Starting a New Game

1. Open the Google Sheet with Cell Sweeper installed
2. Click Extensions → Cell Sweeper → New Game (or the game auto-starts)
3. You'll see an 8x8 grid that looks like a project timeline matrix

Basic Controls

• Type X in any cell to reveal it
• Type F in any cell to flag it as a suspected risk
• Type F again on a flagged cell to unflag it

Understanding the Grid

The game displays as a professional Project Timeline Matrix:

• Rows: Project IDs (P2024-01 through P2024-08)
• Columns: Project phases (Project, Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, Phase 4, Phase 5, Budget, Status)

 

 

 

🎨 Visual Guide

Cell States

State	Display	Background	Font Color	Meaning
Unrevealed	Pending	Light Gray	Black	Phase not started yet
Flagged	BLOCKED	Yellow	Red (Bold)	Suspected risk phase
Safe Empty	Complete	White	Light Gray	Completed phase with no issues
Safe with Clue	Numbers (1-8)	White	Black	Days/weeks, shows nearby risks
Hit Risk	RISK	Red	White	You hit a mine - game over!
Revealed Risk	RISK	Light Red	Red	Mines shown after game ends

 

Reading the Numbers

When you reveal a cell and see a number (1-8), it tells you how many RISK phases are in the 8 surrounding cells. Use this information to deduce where the risks are located!

 

🎲 Game Mechanics

First Click Safety

• Your first click is guaranteed safe - the game regenerates the mine layout if needed
• This ensures you can always make progress from the start

Auto-Reveal Feature

• When you reveal a "Complete" cell (empty), all surrounding unrevealed cells automatically reveal
• This creates satisfying chain reactions and speeds up gameplay
• Chain reaction stops if it hits a risk

Flagging System

• Flag cells you suspect contain risks to avoid accidentally clicking them
• Flagged cells show as "BLOCKED" with yellow background
• You can unflag by pressing F again
• Flagged cells cannot be revealed until unflagged

 

 

💡 Pro Tips & Strategies

Getting Started

1. Start with corners and edges - they have fewer neighbors, making them safer bets
2. Look for patterns - numbers help you deduce exact risk locations
3. Use the process of elimination - if you know where some risks are, you can safely reveal other areas

Advanced Techniques

1. Flag early and often - mark suspected risks to avoid accidents
2. Look for "safe zones" - areas with low numbers are generally safer
3. Use the 1-2-1 pattern - common minesweeper pattern that reveals safe spots
4. Count carefully - if a "2" cell has 2 flags around it, all other neighbors are safe

Reading the Numbers

• 1-2: Low risk, usually safe to explore around
• 3-4: Moderate risk, be careful
• 5-8: High risk area, flag suspected mines before continuing

 

🏆 Winning & Losing

Victory Conditions

• Win: Reveal all 54 safe cells without hitting any risks
• You'll see a victory message with your completion time
• Statistics are automatically updated

Game Over

• Lose: Click on a RISK phase
• All hidden risks are revealed in light red
• Click "New Game" to try again

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

📊 Statistics & Features

Statistics Tracking

The game tracks:

• Games Played: Total games started
• Games Won: Successful completions
• Win Rate: Success percentage
• Best Time: Fastest completion in seconds

Menu Options

Access via Extensions → Cell Sweeper:

• New Game: Start fresh game
• Show Statistics: View your performance stats
• How to Play: Quick reference guide
• Debug Game State: Technical info (for troubleshooting)

 

Stealth Features

Office-Friendly Design

• Looks like a legitimate project management spreadsheet
• Uses professional terminology (Pending, Complete, BLOCKED, RISK)
• Boring corporate appearance keeps you under the radar
• No obvious gaming elements visible to casual observers

What Managers See

• Project timeline with realistic phase names
• Status tracking with standard business terms
• Professional formatting and layout
• Numbers that look like timeline durations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

🔧 Technical Notes

System Requirements

• Google Sheets (web, mobile, or desktop)
• No additional software needed
• Runs entirely within the spreadsheet

Data Privacy

• All game data stored locally in the sheet
• No external connections or data sharing
• Hidden game state is protected from accidental modification

Performance

• Optimized for smooth gameplay
• Automatic state saving prevents progress loss
• Works on mobile devices with touch interface

 

🆘 Troubleshooting

Common Issues

"Input must be an item on the specified list" error:

• This shouldn't occur with the latest version
• If you see this, try starting a new game

Game doesn't respond to input:

• Check if the game is still active (not ended)
• Try clicking "New Game" to reset
• Use the "Debug Game State" menu option for technical details

Statistics not updating:

• Ensure you're completing games properly (win/lose screen appears)
• Statistics save automatically at game end

Visual display issues:

• Try refreshing the browser page
• Check that all game areas are properly visible
• Use "New Game" to reset the display

Getting Help

If you encounter persistent issues:

1. Try the "Debug Game State" menu option
2. Start a fresh game with "New Game"
3. Check the browser console for error messages

 

🎊 Have Fun!

Remember, Cell Sweeper is designed to be both challenging and discreet. Take your time, think strategically, and enjoy the mental workout while maintaining your professional appearance!

Good luck, and happy sweeping! 🎯

 

Cell Sweeper - The thinking person's break time activity.